How do disease management and case management differ in focus?

• A. Disease management coordinates care for individual high-need patients.
• B. Case management focuses on chronic diseases with proactive, population-based strategies.
• C. Disease management focuses on chronic conditions with proactive, population-based strategies; case management coordinates care for individual high-need patients.
• D. Case management is purely administrative and does not affect patient outcomes.

Answer: (C)

The distinction hinges on population versus individual focus. Disease management uses proactive, population-based strategies to manage chronic conditions across groups, aiming to improve outcomes and reduce complications on a systemic level. Case management, in contrast, coordinates and navigates services for individual high-need patients, ensuring they get the right care across providers and settings. The best choice captures both parts: disease management with proactive, population-based strategies for chronic conditions, and case management focused on coordinating care for a specific high-need patient. Other options misplace the focus—either swapping who is targeted (individual vs. population) or implying case management is purely administrative and without impact on outcomes.